Where would draw the line if you were creating a council to replace Broxtowe Borough Council?

Over the past week I have had about a dozen conversations about the future of Beeston and Broxtowe. Not one person has opted to become part of a unitary Nottinghamshire local authority comparable to Nottingham City Council in status. Most agree with me that Broxtowe as a council has never made sense. Several have mentioned joining up with Long Eaton (and by default, Erewash Borough Council). Given the close working relationship there has been between the two councils (sharing backroom services and staff) it is an idea with some merit if the cross-county nature of such a council could overcome those who see county boundaries as set in stone.

'Erewash stretches from Little Eaton to Long Eaton'. The impression this creates is rather different to the geographical reality. Like Beeston and Eastwood, the two places have no direct link unless you follow rivers. In other words, as presently defined Erewash makes no more sense than Broxtowe, but what the map below shows is that a council centred on the Erewash Valley would make geographical sense and from this follows political sense.

If you don't want to go in with Nottingham even though we are part of the same conurbation, then you have to look for links, and geography and the urban area to the west and and north-west of Beeston offer an option. The question is where would you draw the lines if you were trying to keep Beeston separate from Nottingham?

Click on the map to enlarge.

Over the next week I will add some data about council tax, population and registered voters for Erewash, Broxtowe and Nottingham.